Time is a flat circle. Everything that was once old is new again. The XFL is coming back in 2020, Tamagotchis are returning to store shelves this year, and now the grandfather of portable gaming—the Game Boy—is making its triumphant return thanks to one enterprising retro console maker. Revealed at CES 2018, the Ultra GB from Hyperkin is exactly like the Game Boy that you used to have in the ’90s, but revamped with some distinctly modern twists. While at CES, I went hands-on with the sleek, new retro console prototype and like the protagonist of a Proust novel, I was instantly transported back to a simpler time, a better time, a time when I wanted to be the very best, like no one ever was.
Unlike its predecessor, the Ultra GB comes with a sturdy aluminum case that makes it feel more durable and fancier than the original console. It also adds a much-needed backlight, a USB-C port, and a battery that will give you an estimated six hours of gameplay. It will also have a specialized stereo jack geared towards musicians who want to make those sweet, sweet chiptunes. The console, which is not officially licensed by Nintendo, won’t run ROMs; you’ll need to have your old Game Boy game cartridges in order to play the games you used to love. It is expected to retail for approximately $100.
via Giphy
Although the console is still in the prototype stage, Hyperkin tells us that they will have more to announce at this year’s E3 in June. What we played was loads of fun and perfectly scratched our nostalgia itch. It seems ideal for anyone whose mom “accidentally” threw out their old Game Boy when they moved away, or folks who have been holding on to old Game Boy cartridges for years without any way to play them. But what do you think? Would you plunk down $100 for a new Game Boy? What Game Boy games are you most excited to play again? Let us know in the comments below.
Image: Hyperkin
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Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@DanCasey).
